The 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Poll

Americans aren’t overly sentimental for the days of George W. Bush. And they have no desire to turn back the clock and live “off the grid.”

This month, Americans are taking Satchel Paige’s advice not to look back (“something might be gaining on you”) to heart. We’re not nostalgic for the presidency of George W. Bush—only 18 percent felt the phrase “I sure do miss him” applies. (It would be interesting to find out more about those 2 percent of Democrats who apparently do sure miss him. Or maybe not.) And, it would seem, we’re not much for recalling our bright high-school days, as two-thirds of us don’t know who Harper Lee is. (But it was fun being asked about her, as it has led to equal numbers of us identifying the author of To Kill a Mockingbird as a “martial-arts expert” and a “famous pastry chef.”) Similarly, nearly two-thirds of us don’t daydream about chucking it all and living “off the grid,” suggesting a disinclination to look back to, say, the Bronze Age. Nor do we indulge in fond remembrances of those happy days when our kids were still at home, maybe because, for many, there’s nothing to look back on yet: more than half of parents say their children are never too old to live at home and are always welcome.

But the backward glance appeals in two instances. A vast majority of us are curious about our ancestors, even unto the point of research. And the same number shows enthusiasm for another type of investigation: into the behavior of bankers during the financial crash of 2008. (Maybe those explorations can be combined: What did your great-uncle do during the bailout?)

It has been two years since President George W. Bush left office. Looking back, which of the following best expresses your view?

__ALL__
__REPS__
__DEMS__
INDS
He was bad, but there have been worse
32%
13%
44%
34%
His presidency looks worse than ever
24
5
38
25
He seems wiser now than I thought before
19
30
11
6
I sure do miss him
18
46
2
13

New investigations have been launched and lawsuits filed regarding many of Wall Street’s major institutions and the crash of 2008. Do you think more bankers or members of high finance should be investigated?